Spinning ball toy



1943 J. PALMIERI' I ,30

SPINNING BALL TOY Filed June 25, 1942 INVENTQR. I J/ezz 9267266 373 as M. 7"

Patented .Fan. 26, 1943 sPiNmNc. BALL TOY John Palmieri, New York, N. Y. Application June 25, 1942, Serial No. 448,345

6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements'in a spinning ball toy.

More particularly, the invention proposes a toy as mentioned which is characterized by a stick for spinning a ball of a certain construction, and a ball adapted to be conveniently spun with said stick.

it is proposed that the above mentioned ball comprises a spherical body provided with diametrically opposite members mounted on the body and having radially projecting handle portions adapted to be hit with the stick to cause the ball to spin.

The invention contemplates a construction of the ball which will facilitate its balance so that it may be spun about a given point.

The invention also proposes certain constructions of spinning sticks to facilitate striking the ball for effectively spinning it.

For further comprehension of this invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig, 1' is a perspective view of the stick and ball comprising the spinning ball toy, in accordance with this invention.

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the ball, per se. 4 V

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with portions broken away to disclose the interior construction. v

Fig. 4 is an elevational View of the spinning stick with a portion broken away to disclose the interior construction.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational View of a spinning stick constructed in accordance with another form of this invention.

Fig. 6 is another fragmentary elevational View of a spinning stick constructed in accordance with still another form of this invention.

Fig. 7 is another fragmentary elevational view of another spinning stick embodying another form of this invention.

The spinning ball toy, in accordance with this invention, includes a stick I 0 for spinning a ball having a spherical body l2 and radially projecting handle portions It. It is intended that the stick I0 be held in one hand and that one of the projecting handle portions i3 be struck to spin the ball.

The ball II is so constructed that it will have a tendency to spin about a bottom central point M. More specifically, the spherical body I0 is formed with identical recesses |5 on its front, back top and bottom faces to facilitate the balance of the ball on the bottom point Hl. Moreover, the spherical body I2 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite members It having rim portions I! extending along small circles of the spherical body IE to further facilitate the balance .of the ball, These rim portions I! will prevent the ball from rolling sidewise, and if there is any rolling tendency, it will merely be forwards and backwards. The rim portions I"! are formed with small transverse grooves or cuts it placed in selected positions to better balance the ball. These grooves or cuts are placed in the rim by a cut and trial method. The radial handles 3 project from the centers of the members l6.

Each radial handle l3 has a reduced stud portion l9 which passes through an aperture 20 in the center of the member is. Portions of the spherical body l2 behind the members l6 are cut away to form hollows 2!. Weights 22 are eccentrically mounted on the inner faces of the members it and disposed within the hollows 2|. Each member 6 has but one weight. Each member I6 is of curved contour to continuethe outer surface of the spherical body l2 over the hollow portions 2|. The inner ends of the studs I9 are formed with threads 23 which threadedly engage the body I2.

The handles l3 may be turned to loosen the threads 23 and. thus loosen the members I6. Then the members maybe turned relative to each other to locate the weights 22 in preselected desirable positions. For example, the weights may be at the extreme bottoms of the hollows 2|, or oneweight maybe at an elevated position on one side of the ball, While the other weight is located at corresponding elevated position to the otherside of the ball. In this way the balance of the ball may be varied and controlled for the amusement of children playing with same. The handles l3 are then screwed in to lock the members 6 in their new positions.

The spinning stick l6; shown in detail in Fig. 4, includes a handle portion 25 and a front striking member 25. This striking member has a convexly curved inner head 27 slightly spaced from a similarly shaped head 27', formed on the inner end of the handle portion 25, These heads 21 and 21 are embedded in a piece of rubber 28. A ferrule 29 is mounted over the rubber 28 for encasing same.

When the p ojecting handles l3 are struck by the s ing member 26, the latter will flex slightly and rebound, producing a whipping action which facilitates spinning the ball. The convexly shaped inner heads 21' and 21 will rock relative to each other during the flexing of the striking member 26.

In Fig. a modified form of striking stick ID has been illustrated which includes a handle portion 25 and a front striking member 26. The adjacent inner ends of the striking member 26 and handle portion 25 are formed with touching convexly curved heads 3| and 32. These heads are embedded in a block of rubber 33 mounted between the adjacent ends of the handle portion 25 and the striking member 26. The block of rubber 33 serves to resiliently connect the handle portion 25 with the front striking member 26 so that the latter may fiex and whip during use.

In Fig. 6 still another form of striking stick ID is illustrated which includes a handle portion 25 and a front striking member 26. The adjacent ends of these parts are formed with convexly curved portions 34 and 35 which contact each other so that the handle portion 25 and striking member 26 may roll slightly relative to each other. A strip of flexible material 36, such as a strip of rubber, is mounted within cavities 31 extending inwards from the adjacent ends of the handle portion 25 and striking member 26. Nails 38 engage through the latter parts and the flexible strip 36 for connecting these parts as a unit. The resilient strip 36 serves to flexibly connect the handle portion and the striking member so that the latter may flex and whip when a ball is struck and spun, in accordance with this invention.

In Fig. '7 still another modified form of striking stick Hl is illustrated. This striking stick includes a handle portion 25 and a front striking member 26. The adjacent ends of the, handle portion 25 and striking member 26 are connected with each other by a resilient rod 40 mounted in the adjacent ends of the handle portion and striking member. A sphere of metallic or like housing 4: is engaged over the adjacent ends of the handle portion 25 and striking member 26 and serves to connect these parts and permit flexing.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a spimiing ball toy having a stick for spinning a ball, a ball comprising a spherical body, diametrically opposite members mounted on said body and having rim portions extending along small circles on said spherical body, and a pair of diametrically opposite radial handles projecting from the centers of said members and adapted to be struck with said stick for spinning said ball.

2. In a spinning ball toy having a stick for spin ning a ball, a ball comprising a spherical body, diametrically opposite members mounted on said body and having rim portions extending along small circles on said spherical body, and a pair of diametrically opposite radial handles projecting from the centers of said members and adapted to be struck with said stick for spinning said ball, said spherical body being formed with recesses spaced along the diametric center of said spherical body between said handles.

3. In a spinning ball toy having a stick for spinning a ball, a ball comprising a spherical body, diametrically opposite members mounted on said body and having rim portions extending along small circles on said spherical body, and a pair of diametrically opposite radial handles projecting from the centers of said members and adapted to be struck with said stick for spinning said ball, said rim portions being formed with transverse cuts for better balancing the spherical body.

4. In a spinning ball toy having a stick for spinning a ball, a ball comprising a spherical body, diametrically opposite members mounted on said body and having rim portions extending along small circles on said spherical body, and a pair of diametrically opposite radial handles projecting from the centers of said members and adapted to be struck with said stick for spinning said ball, said radial handles having reduced portions which pass through apertures in said members and which threadedly engage said spherical body for holding the members in position.

5. In a spinning ball toy having a stick for spinning a ball, a ball comprising a spherical body, diametrically opposite members mounted on said body and having rim portions extending along small circleson said spherical body, and a pair of diametrically opposite radial handles projecting from the centers of said members and adapted to be struck with said stick for spinning said ball, said radial handles having reduced portions which pass through apertures in said members and which threa-dedly engage said spherical body for holding the members in position, said spherical body having cutoutv portions forming hollows behind said members.

6. In a spinning ball toy having a stick for spinning a ball, a ball comprising a spherical body, diametrically opposite members mounted on said body and having rim portions extending along small circles on said spherical body, and a pair of diametrically opposite radial handles projecting from the centers of said members and adapted to be struck with said stick for spinning said; ball,

said radial handles having reduced portions which pass through apertures in said members and which threadedly engage said spherical body for holding the members in position, said spherical body having cutout portions forming hollows behind said members, and weights eccentrically mounted on the inner faces of said members within said hollows.

JOHN PALMJERI. 

